Method and apparatus for shoe-lace manufacture



, 1,499,286 C. P. BEROLZHEIMER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHOE LACE MANUFACTURE June 24, 1924- Filed Feb. 13, 1922 By 74a 629mm" PEmQLZ/f/MER Patented J um 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE P. BEROLZHEIMER, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHOE-LACE MANUFACTURE.

Application filed February 13, 1922. Serial No. 586,066.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE P. BEROLZ- IrEIMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Method and Apparatus for Shoe-Lace Manufacture.

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for use in shoe 1 lace manufacture and is particularly adapted to apply irremovable and unbreakable tips to shoe laces.

These tips are applied to the shoe laces or similar material in the machine 'of the invention and by the method set forth and said tips arecomposed of a material which is infusible, insoluble and practically unbreakable and which is so impregnated into or incorporated with the material of the lace or braid that it forms an integral part thereof.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for applying a tip to shoe laces or the like which comprises an insoluble, infusible product as bakelite or any similar phenol condensation product.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of means for applying a tip of a phenol condensation product to braid or a shoe lace material which shall be efficient in operation and which will act to apply simultaneously a large number of tips to a quantity of shoe laces.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means whereby a phenol condensation product in preferably powdered form is applied to a plurality of strands of shoe lace material and impregnated thereinto by means of heat and pressure, after which the strands are separated into unitary shoe laces having a tip at each end..

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for applying a tip to shoe laces or'the like composed of a phenol condensation product which tip shall be applied with a minimum expense, time and labor and with a practically negligible waste of material.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is

illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rack for preliminarily setting u the braid material prior to the application of the tips.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tip making dies applied to the material.

Fig. 3 is a sectional v1ew taken on the I line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the dies, taken with a novel means for separating the same.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing in detail, the construction of the dies.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates a rectangularvrack or the like having a single strand of braid or similar material wound thereon in a plurality of turns. I

The rack 10 may be composed of wood or metal or any other suitable material and is preferably provided with spindle extensions 14 as shown for its convenient insertion into a winding machine for the purpose of applying the strand of lace material thereto.

If desired, a series of notches may be made in the end piecesof the rack for more securely holding the braid lengths in position. It will be obvious that the size of the rack may be varied to correspond with the length of shoe lace desired. Openings 16' or any other preferred holdlng means are alternate spacing blocks 24 and projecting tooth members 26 and the female member is composed of a corresponding series of alternately spaced blocks 28 and spacing plates 30. These spacing blocks 24 and 28,

teeth 26 and plates 30 are all very accurately fitted so as to correspond exactly with each other. It will be noted that the upper portions of the spacing blocks 28 of the order to afford a more ready entry or fitting of the tooth members of the upper die.

Bolts 34 with nuts 36 are provided extending longitudinally through alined openings in the respective spacing members and tooth members of both the upper and lower dies in order to securely maintain the assembled die members in position.

For the purpose of a ready separation of the dies after the completion of the process, 0 enings 40 for wedge members 42 are provided, these openings forming part of the female die member and comprising an inclined shelf or the like as best shown in Figure 6 cut out of the material of the end spacing member 28.

The process is as follows:

The material from which the shoe lace is to be made is first wound regularly upon the rack 10. The lower, or female die is then.

applied to the material on the rack, one strand of the material being fitted into a coresponding notch in the die which notches are formed by the spacing plates 30. In the drawings two dies for a rack of material are shown but it is obvious that one die may be used if found convenient.

After the lower die is in position on the rack, the phenol condensation product in a semi-final stage is applied thereto. This product is preferably used in powdered orm but it is obvious thatthe same may be applied in liquid or semi-liquid form if.

desired, the only essential being that the phenol condensation product or the like is used in what-is known as its semi-final state, when, upon the application of the proper degree of heat and pressure, the roduct will harden and assume a final infuslble, insoluble state and become so impregnated into the material of the braid that it cannot be removed therefrom, and if broken, will break off the braid material itself thereby still forming a clean-cut tip which may be readily threaded through an opening or the like. After the phenol condensation product has been applied to the braid material in the lower die, the upper die is fitted into position and the entire apparatus is placed in a press and the properv amount of heat and pressure applied thereto. The press may be heated in any convenient manner as by steam or electric coils. Upon the application of this heat and pressure, the phenol condensation product assumes a final infusible, insoluble form and thoroughly impregnates the material of the braid of lace. The dies are then separated by means of the wedges 42 acting in the tapered openings 40 whereby an equal pressure is applied at three or more points simultaneously and no strain is put upon the laminations of the dies. If the braids with their completed tips have a tendency to stick and adhere to the lower die, the nut 36 can be loosened, thereby separating the laminations slightly and permitting a ready removal of the product.

The width of the dies is such that a completed tip of double length is formed in each section of the die at a sin le operation and it will be noted that all t at is necessary to complete the length of shoe lace is the separation of the tip material into two parts at the middle line of the die, whereby a plurality of completed shoe laces or similar articles are provided having a point at each end composed of an impregnated phenol condensation product and which is It will be seen that herein is provided a 1 method and apparatus for the manufacture of shoe laces or the like whereby a large number of such objects may be simultaneously manufactured with a minimum expenditure of time and labor and with practically no loss of material.

It will also be evident that b the use of an infusible, insoluble tip for s oe laces or similar articles and this method of application of the material, that a particularly desirable product is made and in a manner which will permit the sale of same at :1

price to compare with the ordinary steel tipped lace on the market and which willbe free from the objectionable features of the ordinary article.

It is evident that the dies may be so constructed that the tip will be circular or hexagonal in cross-section but on account of the ease of manufacture and greater desirability of the square tip, the methodshown and described ispreferred.

Iam aware that many changes in the process may be made and numerous details of construction of the apparatus varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon other than as shown by the prior art. 3

I claim as my invention:

'1. A die for applying tips to braid or the like including a male and female member, each of said members comprising a series of alternately spaced laminated plates, means-for retaining said laminated plates in assembled relation, and means for effecting a ready separation'of the die members, said means including a series of inclined shelves integral with certain laminations' of the female die.

2. A. die for applying tips to braid or the wedge means for co-operating with said in- 10 like including a male and female member, clined shelves. each of said members comprising a series of In testimony whereof I have hereunto alternately spaced laminated plates, means subscribed my name in the presence of two for retaining said plates in assembled posubscribing witnesses.

sitions, means for effecting a ready separa- CLARENCE P. BEROLZHEIMER.

tion of the die members, said means includ- Witnesses: ing a series of inclined shelves integral with A. L. BREIT, certain laminations of the female dle, and ALBERT J. FIHE. 

